Lathe bed and apron.



No. 643,l90. Patented Feb. l3, I90 D.

w. LODGE.

LATHE BED AND APRUN.

Applicufibn filed July 27, 1899.;

(No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM LODGE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE LODGE (it SHIPLEYMACHINE TOOL COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

LATHE BED AND APRON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 643,190, datedFebruary 13, 1900.

Application filed July 27, 1899. Serial No. 725,271. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LODGE, residing at Cincinnati, in the countyof Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Lathe Beds and Aprons, of which the following isaspecification.

My invention relates to an improvement in the bed and apron of anengine-lathe by means of which said parts are materially strengthenedand rendered more efficient in operation.

The features of my invention are more fully set forth in the descriptionof the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, inwhich Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of the lathe-bed withthe apron removed. Fig. 2 is a crosssection through the lathe bed andapron, showing my features of improvement. Fig. 3 is an inside end viewof stud, pinion, and gear shown in Fig. 2.

A represents the lathe-bed; B, the apron; B, the apron plate, and O therails or track upon which the apron travels.

E represents the rack on the lathe-bed under the track 0.

For greater clearness of illustration the train of gears constitutingthe apron mechanism, half-nuts, &c. are omitted from the drawings, theonly driving mechanism shown being the particular one selected for thepurpose of attaching my improvement thereto.

F represents a spur-gear constituting one of the train of apron-gearsreceiving speed from the lead screw D. G represents a pinion keyed tothis gear-wheel and engaging the rack for driving the carriage. The gearand pinion revolve on a stud H, secured to the apron-plate by thebolt'k. This stud is extended inward to the lathe-bed and carries on itsend a rider, boss, or lug I. I cast upon the lathe-bed or otherwisesupport thereon under the rack and inside thereof a supporting rail orway J, upon which the stud I rests and travels. This rail is extendedlongitudinally in the path of the apron travel and coextensivetherewith. A roller-bearing may be used instead of the boss, if desired.Preferably this stud and boss form a shoulder Z, as shown in sideelevation, Fig. 2, and end elevation, Fig. 3, so that this forms arigidbearing on the rail against end thrusts or strain as well as vertical.It is obvious that any stud could be extended inward from theapron-plate to perform this function; but the use of a stud supportingone of the apron gear- Wheels is preferred, as it avoids the addition ofsuperfluous parts.

It is well known that with ordinary lathes when the apron gear-wheelengages the rack on the lathe-bed there is a-constant strain upon theoutside plate and a tendency to pry the side of the apron up, caused bythe inclination of the pinion to work out of mesh with the rack understrain of work. In such lathes the strain is borne entirely upon therack and pinion and the weight or the work, as it were, is thrown upon acommon pivot afforded by the engagement of pinion and rack, causing lostmotion, wearing the parts rapidly and weakening them. With my improvedlathe bed and apron the strain is received initially by the pinioncarried by the apron and transmitted through the stud to thesupporting-rail, so that any strain tending to pry up the side of theapron is taken up by this rail inside of the rack, and so the lathe-bedproper is made to stand the entire strain of carriage travel and work.

This construction produces increased strength, durability, and rigidityof parts, does away with all lost motion, and renders the apron movemententirely true and steady, so that the work is subjected to no vibrationas it is presented by the tail-stock to the action of the tool on thespindle.

Having described my invention, I claim 1. In an enginedathe, thecombination of a lathe-bed provided with a rack, a sliding apron mountedon said bed, apron-driving devices supported thereon engaging the rack,a longitudinal rail supported on said lathe-bed in the line of aprontravel, and a stud-shaft supporting one of said apron-driving devicesinwardly projected to and resting upon said rail substantially asdescribed.

2. In an engine-lathe the combination of vice on the end of saidstud-shaft engaging a lathe-bed provided with a rack, a sliding saidrail, substantially as described. [0 apron mounted on said bed,apron-driving de In testimony whereof I have hereunto set Vicessupported thereon engaging the rack, a my hand. stud-shaft supportingthe pinion engaging the I WILLIAM LODGE. rack inwardly projected fromsaid apron, a Witnesses: longitudinal rail supported on said lathe-bedOLIVER B. KAISER,

in the line of apron travel, and a bearing de- V. R. WOOD.

